The longtime operators of Saint John’s Cherry Brook Zoo have broken their silence and denied any wrongdoing during their time running the establishment.
The Saint John police are investigating “possible financial irregularities” at the local zoo after a review of financial statements by an outside accountant.
“We are deeply concerned and saddened by the allegations being made by representatives of the Cherry Brook Zoo with regards to the administration of the Zoo’s financial affairs,” say former Cherry Brook Zoo directors Len and Lynda Collrin, who were suddenly asked to leave the zoo last month.
“We have done absolutely nothing wrong during our management of the Cherry Brook Zoo and have offered our full cooperation to the Board of Trustees since being evicted from our home on July 6, 2016.”
The Collrins lived on-site of the zoo which opened in 1978 and is a registered non-profit charitable organization. The Board of Trustees, which holds in trust the assests of the zoo for the citizens, say they won’t be commenting any further as this matter is now with the police.
Len and Lynda Collrin say that they will cooperate with police:
“However we will not agree to be defamed publicly by the Board of Trustees or their representatives and we intend to take all necessary legal actions to remedy the harm these false accusations have caused us.”
Martha McDevitt is serving as interim zoo director.
